Hizbul militant, civilian killed in gunfight in Kashmir’s Anantnag
On Tuesday, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief commander Abu Dujana of Pakistan and his accomplice were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Hakripora village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwawa district.
Security forces killed a newly-recruited local militant of Hizbul Mujahideen in an overnight gun battle and an unidentified person died in the ensuing crossfire in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police said on Friday.
According to a police spokesperson based in Srinagar, the militant identified as Yawar Nissar Shergujri alias Algazi was gunned down and two militants managed to give the security forces a slip under the cover of the darkness.
Sources said the forces had cordoned off the area on Thursday evening but there was no contact with the militants till late night. The encounter, according to police, started at around midnight Karvel area of Anantnag, 55km from Srinagar.
“During search operation, terrorists fired on the search party resulting in exchange of fire. At around midnight taking advantage of darkness two terrorists fired and managed to give a slip. Cutoff party of army retaliated fire,’’ said a statement.
Yawar, 30, according to police was an overground worker and was wanted in many cases of stone pelting. He was a resident of Anantnag. “Yawar was a chronic stone pelter who had joined militants only 30 days back,’’ said an official.
A soldier of 3 Rashtriya Rifles, who was identified as rifleman Rohit Kumar, also sustained injuries.
Police also said an unidentified person, who was in multi-layered clothing, riding on a “Yamaha Libero with a damaged number plate” was caught in the cross fire.
“No material leading to identity or I-card could be retrieved. Two mobile phones (Nokia 1209 and Jivi-N300) were recovered from the said individual,’’ the spokesperson said.
The telephone contacts in his handset could not immediately help to confirm his identity. Police are trying to ascertain the identity of the civilian.
Internet services have been blocked and restrictions are likely to be placed in the area as Yawar’s body was handed over to his family for burial.
More than 110 militants have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir between January and July this year while this figure was 150 for 2016.
On Thursday, two Indian Army personnel, including a major, and as many militants were killed in two separate gun battles in the restive state.
Security forces claimed major success on August 1 when a top Lashkar-i-Taiba militant Abu Dujana and his accomplice were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Hakripora village in Pulwama district.
(With agency inputs)